Michigan basketball team enters unknown territory after 4 losses in a row
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Even John Beilein isn’t sure how the Michigan basketball players will react to a four-game losing streak.
The fourth-year Michigan coach can say all the right things and do everything perfectly in practice but he knows these players are in a new situation. No one on this team has been through a four-game losing streak in college. Beilein hasn’t experienced it since 2007-08, his first year in Ann Arbor.
Not that he sounds concerned whether or not his team will bounce back from an 80-61 loss to Indiana on Saturday with a good performance at Northwestern (11-5, 2-4 Big Ten) on Tuesday (9 p.m., Big Ten Network).
“It's part of playing on the road. It's a tough game on the road playing against a team that was very, very hungry,” Beilein said. “We were hungry, but when you get in to these situations and things don't go your way, it can just roll on you so quick and get you down by eight, 10, 12.
“I feel, we'll go in, we'll practice, and we have another road game on Tuesday. We will be as ready as we can be.”
Michigan (11-7, 1-4 Big Ten) looked tired Saturday after back-to-back-to-back games against Top 25 caliber teams Wisconsin, Kansas and Ohio State.
They looked a lot like the young team many expected to see before the season instead of the confident team they played like through much of the season. And now the Wolverines are tied with Indiana for ninth place in the Big Ten.
“It wasn’t a good defensive performance for us (Saturday),” sophomore guard Darius Morris said. “We didn’t stick to the fundamentals, and they capitalized by making a lot of shots and not leaving a lot of room for error.”
That room for error with Michigan is becoming increasingly smaller. For a team that had even mentioned the word “March” earlier this season, it needs to be careful how it navigates a stretch of at Northwestern, home against Minnesota and then at rival Michigan State.
So it is understandable why Michigan appeared more solemn than normal inside a small Assembly Hall visitors locker room. It was probably the most down the Wolverines had been in a while.
“A little bit,” junior guard Stu Douglass said. “You can say that. But we really, this team really wants it really bad.
“Really hungry for good, quality wins.”
The Big Ten provides a bunch of opportunities for that. It is up to Michigan whether or not it can take advantage of it or let a team unaccustomed to a long losing streak continue to tumble or figures out a way to return to what it was doing before Big Ten play started.
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein
Comments
Sean T.
Tue, Jan 18, 2011 : 7:11 a.m.
The BB team also had close games with teams such as Bryant. This team is eerily close to our football team under RR.
Matt
Mon, Jan 17, 2011 : 2:04 p.m.
You have to expect inconsistency with this young Michigan team. They have 0 seniors which seems like its unheard of anymore. Let me tell you, theses boys have what it takes to be a great team. Patience my friends, they days are coming.
Yelmonian
Mon, Jan 17, 2011 : 12:02 p.m.
"Unknown Territory"? Doesn't UM do this every year? OK... so here is my theory, and you can all call me foolish. Beilein's system is based on shooting the three. As the season wears on, the players suffer physical fatigue. It's natural. Their legs tire out, and the three point shots are a tad off. UM has a young team, with three freshman seeing a lot of minutes. They are going to wear down. They aren't used to a rigourous schedule, and the physical banging of the Big Ten. Just my opinion.
XTR
Mon, Jan 17, 2011 : 9:32 a.m.
Losing to Kansas and Ohio State on close games are okay, losing to Indiana by a lot is not specially at mid season. The reason why you practice against weaker teams in the pre season is to make you better as the season goes on. Now losing is a habit even against the weaker teams. Is this the tailspin that JB is known for?
NoBowl4Blue
Mon, Jan 17, 2011 : 9:11 a.m.
Hey Tater where are all the banners Michigan used to hang? Good players go where they have a chance to win and Michigan doesn't get them. Could be a case of another WVU coach at Michigan.
rnich231
Mon, Jan 17, 2011 : 8:25 a.m.
"Michigan basketball team enters unknown territory after 4 losses in a row" Shoudn't this title be revised?? This team and your football team are very familiar with a 4-5 game losing streak. This is by no means "unknown territory" for the maize and blue.
chiro19
Mon, Jan 17, 2011 : 8:10 a.m.
How do you get blown out by a really bad Indiana team? Lets see, No big man down low, no visible offensive set plays, and just shoot threes all night. This team looks really bad! Hardaway Jr. and Morris are going to end up being very good but boy how do you continue to run an offense that shoots 20% consistantly from three point range?! I understand losing close games to OSU and Kansas, but seriously how do you get blown out by this indiana team? What a Really Really bad loss!
Pablo
Mon, Jan 17, 2011 : 7:11 a.m.
S/b in Sports section.
ChelseaBob
Mon, Jan 17, 2011 : 6:55 a.m.
The performance at Indiana was to be expected. Close losses to number 1 and 2 teams in the country, and they had a mental let down. They'll bounce back, and have a decent big ten run. By the time the big ten tourney hits in March, they should be clicking and I still think they'll go to the big dance. This is a good team, but they need more offensive balance. Driving to penetrate should be part of the offensive plan, not a last resort when the clock is running down.
Engineer
Sun, Jan 16, 2011 : 11:57 p.m.
It is so sad to hear (or read) that Michigan fans would be satisfied with NIT after fours years. I still watch and cheer but feel this staff has made little if any improvement. Second year NCAA and then nothing and now hoping for NIT. Not good. There should have been improvement year over year with decent recruiting. BB only requires a couple of top players to compete. This staff has failed at recruiting big time. 4 years in and hoping for NIT. Just not good. Help us Mr. Brandon
Jaxon5
Sun, Jan 16, 2011 : 10:16 p.m.
Peaks and valleys....Yeah, Death Valley. Awful performance. It was the worst of the year. I hope they got it out of their system and can eek out 5 Big 10 wins. It will be a push to get that far. But I think they can beat Iowa at home, Indiana at home, Iowa on the road, and hopefully NW at home. But that's a stretch.
wait_a_bit
Sun, Jan 16, 2011 : 7:18 p.m.
If McDonald's All Americans are the answer then how do you account for the decline in programs like North Carolina, Maryland, Florida, Arizona, Georgia Tech and others? Good players go to good programs like OSU willingly because they get support, without question, from the school and the fan base.
newe82
Sun, Jan 16, 2011 : 3:36 p.m.
I hate to say it, but the basketball program is the main reason OSU has a better athletic program than UM. OSU realizes there is a sport in the winter and UM does not. They did at one point but those days are long gone. The losing streak could get to 10 and no one would notice. John B. has been here four years and I have not seen much improvement. Where is all the talk that they need to switch coaches? I don't think they should, but it shows the expectations on the basketball team. The football team is expected to compete for big ten titles and the basketball team has a good year if it finishes above.500. So sad.
OSUbeBetter
Sun, Jan 16, 2011 : 1:55 p.m.
Haha, Does SDSU have a basketball coach?
OSUbeBetter
Sun, Jan 16, 2011 : 1:37 p.m.
They should just have the members of the basketball team meet up with the members of the football team. They can have a sleepover camp together, and gain a real understanding of Loss.